Chapter 3: Summer Harvest & First Gatcha!
-POV Chico-
I made my way over to the quest board, already feeling a little rush of excitement. This was it—the first real step toward doing something in this new world. I stood there, eyes scanning the dozens of papers tacked up, each one outlining jobs, requests, and notices.
Escort missions. Monster culling. Herb gathering in the outskirts of the forest.
I frowned, arms crossed. Most of these seemed… a bit too much for me right now. I mean, I didn't even have a weapon, and the thought of fighting monsters without any gear or training? Yeah, that was a fast-track to an early grave.
I kept reading, looking for anything that might be low-risk, but nothing seemed to fit the bill. My shoulders slumped as I let out a small sigh.
"Tough picking your first quest, huh?"
I turned at the sudden voice. Standing next to me was a man who looked to be in his late twenties. He had short brown hair, a scar tracing down his left cheek, and the kind of relaxed posture that only came from experience. His light armor looked worn but well-kept, and the sword at his hip was clearly not just for show.
"Yeah," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. "I don't really have any combat experience. I was hoping for something a little more…manageable."
The man chuckled, eyes crinkling with amusement. "Been there. Everyone starts somewhere. Actually…" He dug into a pouch at his belt and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. "I picked this up earlier, but realized it's not really my thing. Maybe this will be more up your alley."
I took the paper from him, unfolding it carefully. The Guild's seal was stamped at the top, and the request was simple and straightforward:
Quest: Summer Harvest Helper
•Issuer: Demeter Familia
•Location: Trellis Town farmlands
•Details: Assist in the summer harvest—picking/ sorting crops.
•Reward: 700 Valis/day (bonus 1,000 Valis for multi-day participation)
•Requirements: Physically capable, no combat experience necessary.
I blinked in surprise. This…was perfect.
"Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for," I said, feeling a wave of relief. "Thanks a ton."
The man waved a hand casually. "No problem. Thought you looked new in town and decided to help. Besides, the Demeter Familia pays well, and they're good folks. You'll be in safe hands."
"Yeah, sounds like a good fit. I've done some farm work before—though it's been a while," I added with a sheepish smile.
"That's more experience than most," the man replied with a grin. He held out a hand. "Name's Bram, by the way."
"Chico," I said, shaking his hand firmly. "Hope we cross paths again."
"I'm sure we will. Good luck out there." With a nod, Bram turned and headed out, leaving me standing there with a new sense of purpose.
I brought the quest up to the counter, where Ariel-san stamped it and gave me quick instructions on how to get to the farmlands on the outskirts of town. With everything settled, I stepped outside, quest paper tucked safely in my pocket.
'Alright. Day one of harvest. 700 Valis. Not bad at all. And if I show up tomorrow, that's another 700 with a bonus of 1,000 valis on top. I can definitely handle that.'
I started down the road toward the farmlands, already feeling the sun warming my skin. It'd been years since I'd last worked a farm, but the muscle memory was still there, buried under the city life and desk work.
As I walked, I clenched and unclenched my fists, breathing in the fresh country air.
'Time to go back to my roots. (Hah!) Let's get this bread.'
————————————————————
-Three Hours of Labor Later-
'Holy hell, I'm out of shape.'
I don't know how many times I've repeated that in my head. I've forgotten how labor intensive farming can be, especially with some of these stubborn crops. My saving grace was the abundance of water that could be requested.
I leaned back, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my wrist. The sun had climbed high above the fields, beating down relentlessly with no shade in sight.
Rows and rows of golden crops stretched across the farmland. Some were already bundled, stacked neatly in wooden crates, while others remained rooted. I could hear the distant hum of conversation—chatter between other workers scattered across the field—but I hadn't really spoken to anyone. Everyone seemed to have their own rhythm, their own groups. I was the odd one out, probably because I was a stranger.
Still, the silence wasn't unwelcome. It gave me time to think, to adjust. Even the soreness in my arms and back felt… grounding in a strange way. I wasn't sitting behind a desk anymore. I was really here, my first steps, the beginning of my journey.
Then I heard the crunch of boots on dirt behind me.
"Still alive out here, Sol-san?"
I turned to see Cole Landen, grinning under the shade of his helmet, a wooden water canteen swinging from one hand. The familiar clink of his armor made me smile despite the sunburn threatening to take over my neck.
"Barely," I panted, placing my hands behind my head. "If I collapse, just bury me between the tomatoes."
Cole chuckled and stepped closer. "You picked a rough gig for your first job in town."
"I figured it'd be safer than fighting monsters." I gestured to the rows of crops. "Didn't realize I'd be pushed to my limits against vegetables."
He let out a genuine chuckle at that, brushing some dust off his gauntlet. "Well, you're not doing too bad. Most greenhorns quit before lunch."
"Tempting," I muttered, stretching my back with a grunt. "But I could use the money, and maybe a little muscle wouldn't hurt either."
Cole nodded approvingly. "Good mindset. Trellis doesn't get a lot of outsiders, but we respect hard work here."
Before I could reply, a loud whistle blew from the barn area, followed by a woman's voice calling out to the field.
"Alright, folks! Break time! Thirty minutes!"
A collective sigh of relief swept across the field. Some people dropped tools immediately. Others made their way toward shaded sitting spots near the trees or barn. I just stood there, suddenly realizing that I had nothing to eat. I hadn't been able to get my hands on any food. My stomach made that painfully clear with a loud growl.
Cole noticed.
"You didn't bring a lunch, did you?"
I rubbed the back of my neck, sheepish. "Yeah…kind of dirt poor at the moment."
He shook his head, grinning. "You're lucky I'm in a generous mood."
To my surprise, he reached into a small satchel at his side and pulled out a wrapped bundle of cloth. "I've got some extra bread and smoked meat. Not the fanciest, but it's filling. You want?"
I blinked, genuinely touched. "Are you sure?"
"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't," he said, handing it over. "C'mon, let's grab some shade. Don't want you keeling over before the second half."
I followed him to a spot beneath one of the larger trees near the road, where the breeze was kind enough to cool the sweat clinging to my back. We sat down, and I unwrapped the bundle—rough bread, a few strips of dried meat, and even a small wedge of cheese.
"Man," I said, taking a bite. "This feels the best thing I've eaten in days."
Cole leaned back against the tree, smirking. "Aye, hunger will do that to you."
I laughed with food stuffed in my mouth. "Fair point."
The two of us ate in companionable silence for a while, broken occasionally by idle chat—how long Cole had been stationed in Trellis, his run-ins with drunk adventurers, what crops were the worst to harvest ("Radishes," he'd said with dead seriousness, "never trust a radish field."). The small talk was easy, natural.
It was strange how comforting that felt. In a world that was still so unfamiliar to me, Cole had been nothing but kind. I feel so lucky to have landed near a town like this, and to have met such a kind person.
As the break neared its end, I felt the ache in my muscles less, not because it was gone, but because I was simply more at ease.
"Thanks again, Landen-san," I said, wiping my hands clean.
He stood up, stretching his arms overhead with a groan. "Anytime, Sol-san. Just make sure you survive the afternoon shift."
I smirked, pushing myself up. "Enough of this Sol-san, just call me Chico."
"Ah, of course Chico-san, you may also call me Cole." He replied with a smirk of his own.
I couldn't even stop the eye roll, but I'll take what I can get. Friends are nice.
————————————————————
-Another Four Hours of Manual Labor Later-
I was dead on my feet.
Each step felt like dragging a hundred-pound weight behind me, my shirt stuck to my back, my hair was a complete mess, and every muscle in my body screamed bloody murder.
By some miracle, I managed to shuffle my way back to the Guild Hall, my eyes half-lidded and my gait resembling a zombie fresh out of a grave.
As I entered the stone building, the comforting coolness of its interior washed over me like a godsend. I nearly collapsed onto the counter.
Behind it, the familiar form of Ariel—the receptionist from earlier—perked up the moment she saw me. Her emerald eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Oh my," she said with a small chuckle, "you look like you just lost a fight with a whole herd of minotaurs."
I grunted. "Felt like I was farming with them."
She covered her mouth with a hand, trying not to laugh too hard. "Rough day on the fields?"
I nodded weakly, propping myself up with the counter. "If I never see another carrot again, it'll be too soon."
Ariel smiled, her tone softening. "You'll get used to it. The first day is always the hardest. But it seems you managed just fine." She turned and picked up a small coin pouch, handing it over. "Seven hundred valis, as promised."
I took it with both hands like it was the Holy Grail itself. "You have no idea how much I needed this."
"Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea," she said with a knowing look. "You planning to work again tomorrow?"
"Yeah," I muttered. "Might as well get the incentive. Plus…I kinda need to eat again."
She nodded. "Good to hear. And speaking of eating…if you're planning to avoid scaring off any tavern-goers, you might want to clean up a little." She waved lightly at the dirt on my face and the state of my shirt.
I winced. "Fair. Is there a public bathhouse around here?"
"There is. Just down the main road, past the bakery. Look for a white stone building with blue trim. You can't miss it."
"Thanks, Ariel-san. You're a lifesaver."
"Anytime, Sol-san," she replied with a smile. "Get some rest. You've earned it."
————————————————————
—One Bath and a Shopping Trip Later—
The bathhouse was glorious.
The moment I stepped into the hot water, my entire soul practically melted into the stone. The grime, the aches, the residual shame from being put into my current state by vegetables—it all faded with each breath. I stayed there until the heat flushed my cheeks and I could feel my muscles relax for the first time all day.
Beforehand, I picked up some basic clothes from a nearby vendor—just a plain tunic, trousers, a clean undershirt, and underwear. Nothing fancy, but clean and dry. A thousand times better than my sweat-drenched black T-shirt.
With my stomach reminding me it still existed, I stopped by a modest food stall and grabbed a hearty meal—grilled skewers with rice and vegetables, costing around 60 valis. Best part? It was hot, fresh, and didn't require a single ounce of effort on my part.
By nightfall, I was barely standing again, but this time, at least I wasn't coated in dirt. Time to find an Inn.
————————————————————
—The Cheap Inn—
The inn I found wasn't exactly the lap of luxury, but for 100 valis a night, it was exactly what I needed: a roof, a bed, and a door that locked.
The room was small—wooden walls, a single candle lantern, and a bed that creaked if you so much as looked at it—but it was clean. And more importantly, mine for the night.
I kicked off my crocs, dropped onto the bed, and let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
'I survived day one…' I thought.
The ceiling above me blurred as my eyes fluttered.
'Only one more to go. Then I figure out what comes next.'
Feat achieved! Register with the guild!
Description: Registering to the guild takes you one step closer to exploring this world's only dungeon. The dungeon that has many ties to this world's fate.
Reward: Random Bronze Gatcha ticket.
Quest in progress: First quest, Summer Harvest ½
Description: Complete your first quest with the guild. Assist the Demeter Familia in harvesting Trellis' crops.
Reward: Random Silver Gatcha ticket, Random Bronze Gatcha ticket.
"…"
'So that's what I forgot.' I thought with my widened eyes.
"Uh, Gatcha System… I registered hours ago, why didn't I get the reward sooner?" I asked, only a tad bit irritated.
…
"…haaaah. Whatever, at least you reminded me about it."
'I'll be even more upset if I get something that could've helped with my day.'
'Roll Gatcha.'
Rolling…
Animal Lover (1.9 Rarity, 1.39% odds)
-Common Trait-
All mundane animals like you, and non-mundane ones like you more easily. (Monsters that originate from the dungeon will still be aggressive towards you.)
'Heh, I was hoping that surface monsters would at least not…hate me too much. Though I am quite happy with this trait. Speaking of traits, is there some sort of status or something?'
Status:
Name: Francisco 'Chico' Sol
Race: Human
Current Tickets: None
/Abilities\
-Active (0/1)-
None
Storage: None
/Skills\
None.
/Traits\
Elite - Leaf Clover
Common - Charming Smile
Common - Animal Lover
/Familiars\
Rare - Mimic
'That's quite the status, though the one ability slot is concerning. Surely there is a way to increase that amount?'
Active ability slots can be increased simply by completing quests or by reaching milestones. For example: Obtain 5 total abilities from the Gatcha.
'Hell yeah. That's actually such a relief, luck will play a major role, but then again I do have a luck trait.' That thought made me smirk.
Soon I'll have to figure out what I should do about my familiar, also now that I think about it, I was overthinking the Charming Smile trait. That was my last thought as I finally drifted to sleep, after what felt like a very long day.
Chapter 3 End